KARABAKH ISSUE IS PART OF TURKEY’S FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY: DAVUTOGLU
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 22 2009
Armenia
Yerevan and Ankara signed the Protocols to establish long-lasting peace
in the region, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated today.
He stressed once more that peace in the Caucasus will be established
only after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been settled. "It is
only possible after the Azerbaijani lands have been vacated. The
signing of the protocols caused the Nagorno-Karabakh problem to be
put on the international agenda," Davutoglu told reporters.
The Turkish Foreign Minister also stated that Turkey’s position
on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem remains firm. "It is not a problem
of Azerbaijan alone, but also of Turkey. Karabakh problem is part
of Turkey’s foreign policy strategy," Davutoglu said. According to
him, before the Armenian-Turkish protocols were signed in Zurich,
the Turkish side discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh problem with U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Speaking of his meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar
Mamedyarov, Davutoglu pointed out that the sides discussed the
development of bilateral relations.
The Turkish FM also spoke of the scandalous topic of the national
flags. "Turkey has a law on national flag. But the flag of Azerbaijan
is not stage to Turkey and flags flutter in many places," he said. As
regards the events that took place during the Armenia-Turkey football
match in Bursa (offensive statements about the Azerbaijani national
flag) Davutoglu said that they were provoked by forces wishing to
damage the bilateral fraternal relations. Some media outlets are
deliberately exaggerating. No Turkish official issued any instructions
to FIFA, he said.
The Turkish FM also said that he personally issued instructions
to Turkey’s 120 embassies and 180 consulates round the world for
Azerbaijanis to be received and their problems resolved.
As to the talks as part of the BSEC Foreign Ministers’ conference in
Baku, Davutoglu expressed hope for mutual understanding with Azerbaijan
over a number of energy projects. "Discussions are still in progress. I
hope the issue will be settled," the Turkish Foreign Minister said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
